BBC relaunching Dotun Adebayo’s late-night radio show for sleepless nights “beyond lockdown”

BBC Radio 5 Live’s overnight phone-in show is being relaunched for life beyond lockdown with Dotun Adebayo.

The official voice of night owls everywhere, Dotun has been the host of the 1am-5am show each weekend for nine years on 5 Live.

During coronavirus lockdown the overnight programme on 5 Live began speaking to many more callers and was heard through the night on all 39 BBC local radio stations. This audience interaction and conversation has been such a hit it will remain at the heart of Dotun’s new show, which launches with a revamp from Monday 6th July.

Dotun says: “This programme has always been for night people who like to talk – driving home or home alone or listening through headphones because your partner’s asleep in the bed beside you. Over recent months the conversation has taken us to every nook and cranny in the country where it has been needed more than ever. Every call tells a story.”

Dotun Adebayo MBE grew up in Tottenham, at the age of 12 he fell in love with radio so much that he convinced the producers of Network Africa to use him as a contributor.

He’s also published seven books including bestsellers – Yardie, which became a major motion picture directed by Idris Elba), Baby Father, which was later turned into a 12 part TV series, and Can I Have My Balls Back Please and Sperm Bandits, both of which both became television documentaries.

Awarded an MBE for ‘services to the arts’ in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List on January 20, 2009, Dotun has been a regular presenter on BBC Radio London since 1993 and has presented ‘Up All Night with Dotun Adebayo’ at weekends for nine years on 5 Live.

Commenting on the new show, Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live, Heidi Dawson said:

“Dotun is the master of late night radio and at a time of national uncertainty his show has connected with audiences in an extra special way. It is the perfect time for his programme to move to five nights on the station. Now, Dotun can continue to be there for listeners through the early hours to share experiences, opinions and fears during the most difficult time in our recent history.”

You can catch Dotun Adebayo, from 0100-0500, Monday to Friday on BBC Radio 5 Live from Monday 6th July.